Transportation Engineering Concepts

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Questions and Answers

What is a primary aspect of transportation engineering that involves determining the materials and thickness used in pavement designing?

Geometry designing (correct)

Facility sizing

Highway engineering

Railroad engineering

Before planning occurs, what must an engineer take to gather information about the area?

A consultation with experts

A review of previous projects

A survey of local residents

An inventory of the area (correct)

What is a newer technology used in traffic engineering?

Signals

Signs

Intelligent transportation systems (correct)

Markings

What do railway engineers work to build?

A cleaner and safer transportation network Signup and view all the answers

What do operations and management in transportation engineering involve?

Traffic engineering Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of human factors in transportation engineering?

Driver-vehicle interface Signup and view all the answers

What do railway engineers work with in Washington, D.C.?

Elected officials Signup and view all the answers

What is an essential piece of information included in an engineer's inventory?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of transportation engineering?

To provide for the safe, efficient, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally compatible movement of people and goods Signup and view all the answers

What is involved in technical forecasting of passenger travel?

Estimating trip generation, trip distribution, mode choice, and route assignment Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of transportation engineering in terms of demand?

Passenger trips Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the additional areas of importance in transportation engineering?

Operations planning, logistics, and network analysis Signup and view all the answers

What organization provides safety protocols, geometric design requirements, and signal timing for transportation engineers?

National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) Signup and view all the answers

What is the scope of transportation engineering facilities?

Air, highway, railroad, pipeline, water, and space transportation Signup and view all the answers

What is trip chaining in transportation engineering?

The decision to link individual trips together in a tour Signup and view all the answers

What is land use forecasting in transportation engineering?

The choice of residential or business location Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Design Aspects

Designing transportation facilities involves determining the capacity, materials, and thickness of pavements, and designing the geometry of roadways or tracks.
An inventory of the area or previous system is necessary, including data on population, land use, economic activity, transportation facilities, travel patterns, laws, and community values.

Operations and Management

Traffic engineering involves managing traffic flow to minimize congestion and ensure smooth vehicle movement.
Techniques used include signs, signals, markings, tolling, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) like advanced traveler information systems and advanced traffic control systems.

Human Factors

Human factors in transportation engineering concern the driver-vehicle interface and user interface of road signs, signals, and markings.

Specializations

Highway Engineering

Highway engineers design, construct, and operate highways and roads.

Railroad Engineering

Railway engineers handle the design, construction, and operation of railroads and mass transit systems.
Tasks include reinvesting and revitalizing rail systems to meet future demands and working with elected officials on rail transportation issues.

Academic Discipline and Occupational Field

Transportation engineering applies technology and scientific principles to plan, design, operate, and manage facilities for various transportation modes.

Theory

Planning aspects of transportation engineering involve technical forecasting, urban planning, and political factors.
Forecasting passenger travel involves estimating trip generation, distribution, mode choice, and route assignment.

Scope of Transportation Engineering

Transportation engineering involves facility planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operation of transportation facilities supporting air, highway, railroad, pipeline, water, and space transportation.
Other important areas include operations planning, logistics, network analysis, financing, and policy analysis.

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Description

This quiz covers the principles and concepts of transportation engineering, including planning and design of transportation facilities, and the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.